Rural Economic Development Initiative

We Are the Rural Economic Development Initiative

Section 288.0656, Florida Statutes, establishes the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) to better serve Florida's rural communities by providing a more focused and coordinated effort among state and regional agencies that provide programs and services for rural areas.

REDI:

• Responds to specific community needs and requests.
• Works with communities to improve their rural economies.
• Assists communities in improving access to housing, health care, and educational opportunities.
• Recommends waivers of provisions of economic development programs on a project-by-project basis.
• Undertakes advocacy, outreach, and capacity building to improve conditions in rural communities.
• Provides direct access and referrals to appropriate state agencies as well as county and city associations.
• Reviews and evaluates the impact of statutes and rules on rural communities and works to minimize adverse impact.

Florida REDI Agencies by Statute Include:

• Agency for Health Care Administration
• CareerSource Florida
• Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
• Department of Children and Family Services
• Department of Corrections
• Department of Education
• Department of Environmental Protection
• Department of Health
• Department of Juvenile Justice
• Department of State
• Department of Transportation
• Enterprise Florida, Inc.
• Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
• Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences
• The Florida Regional Planning Councils
• VISIT FLORIDA, Inc.
• Water Management Districts

Additional REDI Partners Include:

• Department of Elder Affairs
• Florida Association of Counties
• Florida League of Cities
• United States Department of Agriculture - Rural Development - Florida